Hi again. As mentioned before, our annual Yam L'Yam (Sea to sea) hike starts tomorrow and I wanted to take this opportunity to give you some more information.We set off early in the morning, and will meet all the other Habonim Dror long-term program participants at Achziv beach, which is just north of Nahariya, on the Meditteranean Coast. There are participants from all around the world - Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, North America, Brazil, Argetina and Uruguay - and this is the first formal opportunity the shnatties have to meet everyone.
On Sunday the plan is to hike one of a few trails just near to Achziv - Betzet, Sheref or Cziv(which will only be confirmed in the morning, depending on the weather) and we will be sleeping in Goren Park, a JNF reserve just next to Kibbutz Goren. We sleep outside under the stars, although tents will be available for those who wish.
On Monday we will hike from the moshav of Elkosh, up along Mt Meron and around the summit. That night we will sleep in the Nachal Amud Camping Ground, which is located just near the Meron moshav.
On Tuesday we will hike the Upper Nachal Amud trail, and will return by bus to the same camping ground as the previous night.On Wednesday we will hike either the Lower Amud trail, or a shorter hike through banana fields (again, depending on possible weather restrictions) and finish at Kibbutz Ginosar, which is located on the shores of the Kinneret lake.
I understand some of these places must sound very foreign, but feel free to take a look through any of the many mapping facilities available on the internet (eyeonisrael.com maps 2 and 3 cover all the area we are hiking).
Mobile phone reception during parts of the hike are very limited, but should you have any urgent concerns, please contact Aimee, Debs or Yahal in the HDUK offices.
Wishing everyone a Shavua Tov!

Hi all
This past week was action packed on Boneh! This weeks theme looked at Judaism and the relationship between the monothiestic religions. A particular focus was on Jerusalem, given the importance of the city for all the religions - and specifically the shnatties looked at the History of Jerusalem, the Book of Chronicles, the different conquests that took place over the city, David and Solomon and Solomon's building of the Temple, and Jesus' pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On Tuesday the shnatties excursion was to the Old City of Jerusalem, with a tour of the Southern Excavations and the Davidson centre. The centre is part of the Jerusalem Archaelogical Park and offered the shnatties an exhibition of archaeological objects, a real time virtual reality reconstruction of the Herodian Temple, and a hugh definition video of a Jewish pilgrimage to Second Temple period Jerusalem. There is archaeological digs continuing at the moment, but the exhibition allows you to see an example of a street in the 1st century, and ancient mikveh (ritual bath) and various other spots of interest which have been uncovered in the digs.
On Wednesday, the shnatties celebrated Succot together with the North American participants with an enormous Succot extravaganza. The morning started with a lovely Succot performance, by some of the madrichim. Afterwards, everyone was divided into small groups and had various tasks to complete such as a answering a multiple choice quiz, a Succot-themed music quiz, and a Succah building competition. We finished off by learning some Succot songs.
Early on Sunday morning, we depart for the Yam l'Yam (Sea to sea) Hike. More details will be posted shortly.
Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!

The first full week of Boneh was completed last week - it was fairly busy, but the shnatties are adjusting to the routine nicely. All rooms have been sorted, and the mass of luggage/stuff that was brought with them is slowly finding its home.
Sunday and Tuesday last week were both seminar days, looking at a broad introduction to Judaism. Many new and interesting themes were looked at by everyone. Thursday was an excursion to the Israel Musuem in Jerusalem, where they looked at the model of the 2nd Temple and watched a short movie that illustrated life during that period in Jewish history. They also went to the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept, and then they had some free time to visit exhibits of their choosing. Hebrew classes also started last week, first with a placement test, and then with the first class on Wednesday. Wednesday also saw the first Avoda rotation on kibbutz, where all the shnatties were placed in various working positions (dining room, kitchen, garden, laundry etc).
This week has a slightly different schedule due to the Succot chag starting on Wednesday afternoon. This weeks seminar theme is Monotheistic Religions, and includes an excursion on Tuesday to various sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. Wednesday will be a combined Succot celebration with the Habonim Dror North America participants, also on Boneh. The shnatties will also start their Hadracha course, which essentially looks at being a madrich, and all aspects related to that.

Chag Sameach

Hi All

The orientation tiyul has now finished, and all shnatties are either at their destinations for the chag, or on the way.The tiyul by all accounts was a fantastic and fun experience where the shnatties spent a lot of time together, and also with the Habonim Dror North American group. The hikes were challenging, but also rewarding in many senses.

On Monday, the group did the Ein Ovdat track, Tuesday the gorgeous Nachal Arugot (overlooking the Dead Sea) and then spent a few hours floating in the Dead Sea and stretching their muscles. This morning, they did a short hike of Nachal David (also overlooking the Dead Sea) before departing the area. [I will try to put up a few pics later in the day]
The chofesh period lasts until Sunday morning, upon where the shnatties will have their Ivrit tests, to place them in different levels, and start their first Boneh seminar - Introduction to Judaism!
Wishing you and your families a Shana Tova,
Vered and the whole Shnat tzevet!

Boneh kicks off!

Hi all
After a very busy orientation period, the shnatties arrived on Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Hey today, to start the Boneh portion of the year.
The past few days saw the shnatties at Beit Gesher in Jerusalem, undergoing general orientation peulot as an introduction to Israel/Israeli culture, and to the year ahead. Topics discussed included the definition of the word "Hachshara" (literally in Hebrew translates to "training" but has connotations of preparations for youth movement leadership), the equality of human value, wiping away prior stigmas and starting discussions on responsibility for the year ahead.
A highlight (or possible lowlight!), was watching the Israel v England football match, together with the HDUK movement workers, who are currently in Israel on a seminar.
Today, the Boneh portion started, with some formal and informal gibush (bonding/getting to know you activities) with the Habonim Dror North American groups, who are also present on Netivaleh for Boneh. We also had a short tour of the kibbutz (as scene above), and some basic orientation information was gone over. The rest of the evening was time to prepare for tiyul tomorrow, and relax a bit!
Tomorrow the shnatties are on tiyul in the Sde Boker/Judean desert region. The plan is for them to set off relatively early on Monday morning, and hike in the Ein Ovdat region, and then sleep in a camping ground next to Midreshet Sde Boker - called Chan HaShayarot. On Tuesday, they will hike in the beautiful Dead Sea area, followed by some swim/floating time in the Dead Sea, and spend the night at the Masada youth hostel. On Wednesday they will either have a short hike, or possibly more Dead Sea time, depending on how Tuesday pans out! The buses will then do a drop off for the Rosh Hashana chag weekend.
Hoping everyone is well,
Vered

Arrival!!

The shnatties landed happily and safely early this morning!!!
They were greeted by their madrichim and also their lovely movement workers and Shaliach, who made them an awesome welcome sign.
They are currently checking into the hostel in Jerusalem and have the morning to rest.
Posted here are some photos from arrival (as you can see the sun is starting to rise, and everyone is looking quite tired and bleary eyed...!)

Last minute details..

Hi all,
As your arrival is very near, I just wanted to update you on a few last details.
Your mobile phones from Israelphones will be delivered to the group at lunchtime on Thursday. As of yet I believe the allocated numbers are not available, but they should be on the day prior to departure.
Please note that during orientation and the tiyul (hike) following, there will be very little to no internet access. For those calling from the UK - mobile phones are turned off during activities so please do not be alarmed if you are having trouble reaching your son/daughter/family member.
Of course if there are any concerns, please feel free to contact staff.
See you all in Israel bright and early on Thursday morning!!
(Please look out for me in the arrivals hall and introduce yourselves! I will be wearing a chultza..)
See you then,
Vered